Meredith Rodefer

Meredith Rodefer is a freelance writer, who focuses on anything from lifestyle blogging to hard news, and dancer. Beyond Youth Independent, she has written for sites such as Natmonitor.com, CheekyChicago.com and FamilyFocusBlog.com.
Contact Meredith: meredith.rodefer@youthindependent.com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accused the German automaker Volkswagen of violating emissions standards. As a result, Volkswagen has stopped the sales of certain Audi luxury models. U.S. dealers were issued a stop-sale order that covers 3-liter, 6-cylinder diesel versions of the 2015-2016 Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7. …

An American Airlines flight on its way to New York from Phoenix made an emergency landing in Wichita, Kan. Tuesday evening after one of its passengers allegedly became disruptive, an airline spokesman said. Flight 622 bound for New York City was diverted at 10:30 p.m. ET to Wichita Eisenhower National …

Roughly three in five Americans now take prescription drugs, from antidepressants to high cholesterol treatments. That number has risen 8 percent from 1999 to 2011, according to a new study. The lead author of the study, Elizabeth D. Kantor of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, said that …

Jennifer Lawrence revealed at a press conference for The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay–Part 2 that it was none other than her fierce character Katniss Everdeen that inspired her to voice her opinion on gender pay inequality. It was her character’s rebellious nature that made her open up on the issue. “I don’t …

On Tuesday, Ohio voters will decide whether or not they will become the first state east of the Mississippi to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Though it seems legalization has majority support, surveys suggest that the vote could be a close one. However, the executive director of ResponsibleOhio, the …

Former Senator, Republican presidential candidate and Law and Order actor Fred Thompson died in Tennessee after a recurrence of lymphoma Sunday. He was 73. Thompson’s family announced the news in a statement published in the Tennessean which read, “It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we …

Unfortunately, I’m here to deliver some devastating news. Game of Thrones fans, the fantastical sixth season of GOT may be airing later than you think. On Thursday, HBO announced the February premiere dates for Martin Scorsese’s record label drama set in the ’70s called Vinyl alongside the return of comedies Togetherness and Girls. Vinyl begins Feb.14 with a …

Prosecutors asked a judge Thursday to sentence a New England prep school graduate to 3.5 to 7 years in prison over a sexual assault on a younger female student and a felony. According to ABC News, a judge in New Hampshire will decide whether Owen Labrie will be sentenced to …

Apple TV is adding music to Siri’s search abilities! The 2015 edition of Apple TV comes with Siri voice assistance to help look for items via voice. But it is pretty much limited to looking for movies, TV shows and some other content. However, beginning early next year, Apple TV …

Passengers were forced to evacuate a Dynamic International Airways’ Boeing 767 taxied for departure to Venezuela Thursday after the plane’s engine apparently caught fire on the tarmac at an airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The pilot of the aircraft behind the Dynamic International Airways Flight 405 reported that there was …